# Chase Garbarino

> Chase Garbarino is the co-founder and CEO of HqO, a Boston-based proptech company whose software helps commercial landlords manage the tenant and workplace experience across hundreds of buildings worldwide. Before HqO, he built and sold Streetwise Media, the company behind local innovation-news brands like BostInno and AmericanInno, and later founded VentureApp. A lifelong Boston sports fan and runner with an entrepreneurial streak going back to reselling Pogs in fifth grade, Garbarino has spent more than a decade using technology to build networks and communities for startups, small businesses, and now the commercial real estate industry.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at HqO
- **Organizations:** HqO, Streetwise Media / AmericanInno / BostInno, VentureApp, CampusWord
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A. in Economics, Hamilton College
- **Known for:** Co-founded and sold Streetwise Media (AmericanInno / BostInno) to American City Business Journals in 2012., Built AmericanInno into a local media network covering innovation economies in more than a dozen U.S. cities., Co-founded HqO, a global leader in the tenant experience software category for commercial real estate.

## Career timeline

- **2007** — Graduated from Hamilton College with a B.A. in Economics; co-founded the school's Entrepreneurship club and earlier launched CampusWord, an online publication for college students.
- **2008** — Co-founded BostInno with Kevin McCarthy, a community startup blog covering Boston's innovation economy, which grew into Streetwise Media / AmericanInno.
- **2012** — Sold Streetwise Media (AmericanInno / BostInno) to American City Business Journals, a subsidiary of Advance Publications.
- **2015** — Founded VentureApp, a software company building communication and productivity tools for business communities.
- **2018** — Co-founded HqO (evolving from VentureApp) to build a tenant and workplace experience platform for commercial real estate.
- **2023** — HqO raised a Series D round; company managing 160M+ square feet across 300+ buildings worldwide.
- **2026** — Continues as CEO of HqO, expanding building-experience benchmarking (REX Score) and international programs such as 'Best Spaces to Work.'

## Achievements

- Co-founded and sold Streetwise Media (AmericanInno / BostInno) to American City Business Journals in 2012.
- Built AmericanInno into a local media network covering innovation economies in more than a dozen U.S. cities.
- Co-founded HqO, a global leader in the tenant experience software category for commercial real estate.
- Grew HqO to serve 60+ commercial real estate clients and manage 160M+ square feet across 300+ buildings internationally.
- Raised more than $160M in total funding for HqO across multiple rounds, including a Series D.
- Member of the Forbes Business Council and a recognized voice in proptech and the future of work.

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — HqO featured in industry discussion of the 'Quantum City' concept and redefining how office real estate value is measured.
- **2023-10** — HqO's most recent major funding (Series D era); company managing 160M+ sq ft across 300+ buildings.

## Links

- Website: https://www.chasegarbarino.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasegarbarino
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/HqOapp
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/HqOapp/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/chase-garbarino
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-22